When should you prefer sockets (TCP) and when should you avoid it?

In programming, using sockets (TCP) is a critical decision that can significantly impact the performance and reliability of your application. Here are some guidelines for when to prefer sockets and when to consider avoiding them.

When to Prefer Sockets (TCP)

• Real-time Communication: Use TCP sockets for applications requiring real-time data exchange, like chat applications or live-streaming services.
• Reliable Data Transfer: TCP ensures that data packets are delivered in order and without errors, making it suitable for applications like file transfer protocols (FTP) and web servers.
• Bi-directional Communication: Applications needing two-way communication, such as APIs that require client-server interactions, benefit from TCP sockets.
• Persistent Connections: Sockets are ideal for maintaining long-lived connections where continuous data exchange is expected, such as in multiplayer online games or collaborative tools.

When to Avoid Sockets (TCP)

• High Latency Tolerant Applications: If your application can tolerate latency and does not require strict communication, consider using HTTP or web services instead.
• Simpler Protocols: For basic data exchanges, simpler protocols like UDP (User Datagram Protocol) can be preferred for less overhead.
• Stateless Communication: If your application operates in a stateless manner, using HTTP requests might be more suitable than managing socket connections.
• Resource Constraints: On environments with limited resources, the overhead of maintaining TCP connections may not be justified.